24 Hours in Beirut with Youmna Saba

It's shocking to think singer Youmna Saba fell into songwriting almost by accident. The sultry Arabic vocalist was asked by a friend to perform an original song for the opening of an art exhibition in Beirut in 2006. The rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, Saba has released the EP, "Min Aafesh el Beit" (household furniture), a collaboration with musician and sound engineer Fadi Tabbal from Tunefork Recording Studios. And in 2011, she released a second EP, "Hal Bent Aabalha Tghanni" (this girls feels like singing), a compilation of five tracks the singer recorded at home. The rawness of that kind of setting is perfect, really, for Saba's music. She brings a level of emotion and depth to her songs that is at once captivating, inviting and soulfully provocative.

Youmna composed and wrote her latest album, "Njoum," an experiment in storytelling and songwriting, during an artist residency in South Korea. Keep a look out for her live performances in an ongoing series of collaborations with Fadi Tabbal.

Now let's find out where Saba likes to spend her time in Beirut. Click through the slideshow to see what's up.

"Namely, Abdul Rahman el Hallab. I often find myself indulging in a piece (or more) of 'halawat al shmaysa', also nicknamed by my friends 'the heavenly cloud.' These sweets are best enjoyed on a lazy Sunday afternoon."

"Onomatopoeia, the Music Hub, is the ideal place to meet other people who are passionate about music. It's an ideal setting for coming together to debate about the status of music in the Arab world over a cup of coffee, watch intimate concerts, or just start an impromptu jam session."